Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41129076›Full record

ReviewDiscover mental health2025

Systematic review of mental health problems and migration stressors among Kurdish migrants in western host countries.

Darya Rostam Ahmed, Sara K Kamal, Sarah Mahmoud Mesbah, Jehad Feras AlSamhori, Reinhard Heun

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Discover mental health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Darya Rostam AhmedDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Science and Health, Koya University, Koya KOY45, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, 44001, Iraq. darya.rostam@koyauniversity.org.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3987-3848
Sara K KamalFaculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Sarah Mahmoud MesbahFaculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura City, Egypt.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1439-8438
Jehad Feras AlSamhoriFaculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Amman, 11152, Jordan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4878-7362
Reinhard HeunMedical School, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis systematic review aimed to evaluate the mental health outcomes of Kurdish migrants, with particular attention to the prevalence of psychological disorders and the impact of pre- and post-migration stressors.

methodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar according to the PRISMA guidelines. The strategy combined medical subject headings (MeSH) and relevant keywords on Kurdish migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and mental health. The search yielded 132 records, of which 15 studies met the eligibility criteria, representing a total of 5,319 participants. The methodological quality and risk of bias of the included studies were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

resultsFollowing migration and resettlement in host countries, Kurdish migrants were found to experience high rates of PTSD (36.9%), depression (36.3%), and anxiety (27.7%), together with additional difficulties such as insomnia, fatigue, and suicidal ideation. Pre-migration was most often driven by war and political oppression (81.1%), violence and persecution (60.7%), and economic hardship (59.1%). Post-migration stressors included family separation (47%), discrimination and violence (51.4%), isolation and loneliness (51.7%), economic difficulties (40%), fear of deportation (21%), and other problems (30%).

conclusionAs one of the largest stateless and historically persecuted populations, Kurds experience distinctive challenges in their migration journeys. Their significant burden of mental health problems underscores the need for culturally tailored and trauma-informed interventions that address both displacement experiences and barriers to integration in host societies, as well as during deportation and reintegration into their home countries.

Indexed as

AnxietyDepressionKurdish migrantsMigration stressorsPsychological disordersPTSDSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID41129076
PMCPMC12549484

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.